The labor required in our Conferences is yearly increasing. New fields are opening, and in every Conference there are more calls to hear the living preacher than can be met with the present number of ministers and missionary workers. But although our numbers are largely increasing, there is a deficiency of funds in these Conferences to carry forward the work in their respective localities. This is owing partly to the fact that many of our ministers are better preachers than laborers. In other words, they are men who are quite successful in bringing companies into the truth; but they do not educate these new converts, before leaving them, to feel the responsibility of sustaining themselves or the cause of God. Thus they continue to enter new fields, raising up other companies, and leaving them in like manner. In this way many are theoretically converted to the truth, without that heart-work which would cause them to feel that a responsibility rests upon them, beyond simply believing the truth and observing the Sabbath.
This evil has been growing upon us, which led to the adoption of the following resolutions at the last session of the General Conference :—
1. Resolved, That we again urge our ministers not to leave new converts and churches immediately after they have embraced the message; but to visit them often and regularly till they are thoroughly settled in all the truth, and organized, and all are gathered in who can be reached.
2. Resolved, That we believe it is wisdom to make a special effort to add to small, weak companies, instead of leaving them to die out, while raising up similar companies in new fields to in turn be left in like manner.
3. Resolved, That in order to save time and traveling expenses, and make each minister responsible for the completion of his own work, we recommend that, as far as practicable, each minister be assigned a definite field in which to labor for at least one year.
The life and character of the apostle Paul might be studied with profit by many of our ministers. He ever taught those who embraced the gospel to sustain it with their means and efforts. The churches in Macedonia, especially at Philippi, were brought out under circumstances of great affliction to himself and others. With Silas he was beaten and thrust into the inner prison, their feet made fast in stocks. “And the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely, who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.” Acts 16: 22–24.
Paul, when a prisoner at Rome, in writing to the Philippian church, states that they had the same conflict which they had seen in him, and which he was then enduring. Phil. 1: 30. The Spirit of God said they were in “deep poverty,” and had “a great trial of affliction;” yet they were more than willing to give of their means to sustain the gospel. “For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift.” See 2 Cor. 8: 1–5. This liberality on the part of the Philippians, in sustaining the work, commenced with their experience in the gospel; for when Paul left Macedonia he went to Thessalonica; and they sent once and again to minister to his necessities while he remained there. Phil. 4: 14–18.
This should silence those who think a church must wait a year or two before systematic benevolence can be organized. The closing words of Paul to the elders of the churches in Asia are much to the point: “I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” The means which they were to give was not for himself. His testimony to them was, “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.”
The apostle was ever engaged in personal labor, visiting from house to house, and teaching his converts to do the same. Acts 20: 20. He took individuals with him from the various churches which he raised up, and educated them in the missionary work. Acts 20: 4. Thus he ever made the cause self-supporting, and built up strong, working churches. He warned the elders to feed the flock of God, and to guard against the coming in of grievous wolves, who would not spare the flock, and even against men who would arise among themselves, rending the church and causing divisions. Acts 20: 28–32.
He appealed to his own experience among them, and exhorted them to remember that by the space of three years he had not ceased to warn every one, night and day, with tears.
Such laborers are needed to-day,—men who will not spare themselves, but who will feel the burden and importance of presenting “every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” The apostle, speaking of Christ, says: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom (or wisdom in all things); that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Col. 1: 28, 29.
To preach Christ was to preach all that pertained to the gospel, and to declare the whole counsel of God. Unless our churches are educated to feel a responsibility of the cause outside of themselves,—unless they are educated in the tithing system, missionary work, Sabbath-school interests, health reform, and every branch of present truth, they will ever be weak, subject to false doctrines, and be easily overthrown. The apostle felt that unless those he brought into the truth were educated in divine things, so that they would remain steadfast through the perils of the way, he would have no reward in the kingdom of God. He therefore exhorts the Philippians to be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain.”
Our foreign missions in the old world, under the direction of men who have built up the cause in this country, must be sustained. The nature of the work is such that calls will be made, by these countries, to friends in America, for more or less means; therefore the cause here must be more than self-sustaining. Those embracing the truth should be taught to feel as the early Christians felt. In every case the record plainly shows that it was not simply to benefit him who had labored among them, that they were so anxious to give of their means; but it was to sustain the cause elsewhere. Much was sent to Jerusalem, which was the head-quarters of the early church.
The cause in which we are engaged had to be built up in its early history. Thus it has been in every reform. Luther, Wesley, and others of like character, by their self-sacrificing labor, secured God’s blessing in the establishment of sacrificing churches; but these men were soon followed by others less sacrificing, who entered their fields and enjoyed the fruit of their labors. Not being able to impart what they did not themselves possess, the church soon became destitute of the Spirit and power of God.
The pioneers in this work have known what it was to suffer deprivation and want in their labors. They were then laying a foundation and casting an influence which will last till the end. Men thus brought into the truth, during its early history, are those who respond to every call for means to sustain this work. There are others who come nobly up and stand by their side in thus doing, but with many there is a manifest lack in this respect. Ministers should possess this spirit of self-sacrificing labor, if they would see it manifested by those who are brought into the truth under their labors. It is this that gives permanency to their work; but how often it is otherwise. Men will go out, get a few weak converts, and expect pay as much as those who raise up church after church; and some feel hurt if they cannot even have an advance on their wages, although the funds from which they expect to receive are not the fruit of their labor.
We believe that when our Conferences adopt the resolutions presented in the report of the General Conference, it will give a healthy tone to both ministers and churches. We need to watch carefully lest we lose the spirit of sacrifice and reform, and become content with a dry theory.
We need a revival among our ministry and people; not merely a revival, but a reform. Perilous times are before us, and how poorly are we prepared to meet them. God calls for men and women whose hearts are true to the interests of his work; who will not count their lives dear if they may win Christ, and save precious souls for whom he died. Our brethren are willing to work when properly instructed by precept and example. Our missionary societies are doing something; but did they possess more of a self-sacrificing spirit, the efficiency of their labors would be greatly increased. We should not labor simply to interest people in the theory of the truth, but to get them converted to God and his precious cause, so that the truths of God’s word may be dearer to them than life. Much of this labor is needed in our churches. It would save many precious souls from doubting the truth, and backsliding from God. We appeal to our ministers, to our brethren and sisters everywhere, to raise the standard of labor in the cause of present truth. Selfish interests should be laid aside, and we should begin to inquire, Have I built up the cause of Christ? Have my example and teaching led others to put away evil habits, to love to deny self, and to assist in the missionary work? Have I led others to have a pecuniary interest in every branch of the cause of our divine Lord? Soon the books will be laid open in the Judgment, and every man will receive according as his works shall be.
S. N. HASKELL.
AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?
By J. E. Crawford
Oh! how little we truly know
Of friends and neighbors; they come and go;
Daily and hourly we meet and part,
But there is a veil on every heart;
We cannot see, and we do not know
The joys or sorrows which lie below.
Many a struggle these hearts have known,
Struggles witnessed by God alone;
Many a sorrow has lived and died,
Carefully screened from the world outside,
Screened from every brother's eyes,
Lest while he pitied he might despise,—
Sorrows which died in a blessed calm,
When the healer poured in oil and balm.
Thus do we hide both joy and grief;
Hiding too often the sweet belief,
Which maketh our lot less hard to bear,
And keepeth our souls from dark despair,
Fearing to speak of our own sweet trust,
Lest our brother's be dim with dust.
There is a man with whitened hair,
Whom oft we see in the house of prayer;
It needeth no seer to tell that he
Is wearing a sorrow silently,
With one brave boy on the field of strife,
And another wasting his bright young life,
Turning aside from the way of truth;—
But which of us speaks to the erring youth,
Patiently striving day by day,
To win back one who has gone astray?
Which of us breathes in the old man's ear
A word of sympathy, hope, and cheer?
Oh! there are souls in our midst to-day,
For whom we have failed to watch and pray,
Souls whom we well may dread to meet
When we stand before God's Judgment seat;
Souls who might say, You saw us go
In the downward path to death and woe—
Saw us wasting God's holy day,
As gravely you walked on your churchward way;
But none of you said, as a Christian should,
“Come with us, brother, we'll do you good.”
Ah! 'tis a fearfully solemn thought,
(When will we ponder it as we ought?)
That not to ourselves we live or die;
That every day, as it glideth by,
Leaveth our impress for good or ill
On hearts which we either cheer or chill;
Could we but know what depths are stirred
By a careless look or a thoughtless word,
How would we watch these little things,
Which enter the heart like venom'd stings!
How would we pray for grace and light,
To think, to feel, and to act aright!
—J. E. Crawford.
KEEP ON THE TRACK.
By JOS. CLARKE
How strong and active seems the huge iron horse, as he moves briskly along the rails, pushing or drawing his load. No sense of weariness seems to check his fiery valor—but lo, he stops! Why is the iron horse so dead and motionless? Ah! he is off the track. Without a restoration to his proper place, all his strength is vain; he may blow, and wheeze, and whistle, but cannot move himself an inch; he is off the track, and no effort can give him speed or motion. But look! the men collect around him, and they work and tug, until the mighty horse is up again on the iron road, and presently the panting steed drives bravely away with his ponderous load.
So the Christian may unfortunately go astray, until his connection with God is broken, and he is off the track. Trials are sent to arouse and lift him from his sad state, and place him in connection with Christ, the living power; and now in the heart's struggle, he feels that the divine hand is lifting him. He did not know he was so far from God; but as he is placed again on the narrow road, and he feels the kind influences of Heaven comforting his wounded spirit, he lifts his heart gratefully to God. Now the flow of holy love again cheers his lonely way, and light and peace attend him.
Through trials and through darkness, the man of God should persevere; there is no halting place; trusting ever, he should never falter, but persevere onward and upward to gain the prize.
JOS. CLARKE.
VICTORIA WILL NOT “BANG.”
The present excellent English queen is eminently sensible in her domestic notions. She cannot endure the modern idiotic habit of women's wearing a low fringe of hair across their foreheads. An English exchange says that her majesty sent special instructions to the bridesmaids at the late wedding of her son, the Duke of Connaught, that they would not be permitted to wear these hair fringes, or high heels to their boots, nor to tie their dresses back in the present most uncomfortable and indelicate fashion. Victoria deserves the thanks of every intelligent mother in the land. The same paper says: “Last year one lady appeared at a drawing-room with her hair over her eyes. The next day she received a message from the Lord Chamberlain, informing her that until her hair had grown she would not be required to attend any more drawing rooms.”
Great Souls Have Will
GREAT souls have will; others only feeble wishes.
Attention to Small Things
ATTENTION to small things is the economy of virtue.
Conquering Laziness
He is happy who has conquered laziness once and forever.
Once and Forever
once and forever.
JUDGE no man till you have stood in his place.
A Pure Heart
place.
A PURE heart is the crown of all beautiful things.
Purified by Truth
things. As the body is purified by water, so is the soul purified by truth.
Ragged Clothing and Frayed Reputation
Ragged clothing cannot debase a man as much as a frayed reputation.
Repentance
REPENTANCE is the heart's sorrow, and a clear life ensuing.
Forgiving Oneself Nothing
We forgive everything to a person who forgives himself nothing.
Action and Moderation
ONLY actions give life thought; only moderation gives it a charm.
A Straight Line
A STRAIGHT line is the shortest in morals as well as in mathematics.
The Doer of a Secret Sin
THE doer of a secret sin supposes that it is he they are talking about.
The Eccentric Minister’s Question
An eccentric minister, stepping one day into the shop of one of his parishioners, asked abruptly, without even waiting for a salutation, “Did you expect me?” “No!” was the reply. “What if I had been death?” he asked; and stepping out, was gone as suddenly as he came in.
A Skeptic and Balaam’s Ass
deny as he came in.
A SKEPTIC, trying to badger a simple-minded old man about the miracle of Balaam's ass, finally was doubled up by the honest old believer, who, with meaning emphasis, said: “I don't see why it ain't as easy for an ass to talk like a man, as it is for a man to talk like an ass.” Asinus said no more.—N. S. S. Teacher.
Faithfulness in Every Situation
A YOUNG man who gets a subordinate situation sometimes thinks it not necessary for him to give it much attention. He will wait until he gets a place of responsibility, and then he will show people what he can do. This is a very great mistake. Whatever his situation may be, he should master it in all its details, and perform all its duties faithfully.
—Mrs. Chalmers
By Mrs. Chalmers
fully.
Is thy burden hard and heavy? do thy steps drag
wearily?
Help to bear thy brother's burden; God will bear
both it and thee.
Art thou stricken in life's battle? Many wounded
round thee moan;
Lavish on their wounds thy balsams, and that
balm shall heal thine own.
—Mrs. Chalmers
FEARS OF FAILURE.
By Editor
In another column we give from the Alliance a short article expressing the fears which beset thoughtful men in reference to the stability of our own government. The following from the Temperance Advocate gives utterance to essentially the same forebodings, but from a different cause. Conflicting views of State rights, but more especially ignorance, corruption, and intemperance, are elements of weakness in such a government as ours which fully justify all the anxiety expressed by these writers from their standpoints. These will work trouble; they would in not a long space of time work ruin. But before that time, if we read the prophecy aright, this power goes alive into the lake of fire at the coming of Christ. Delay only aggravates the evil; and therefore we pray the Lord to come and establish his government, in which there will be no corruption, no bribery, no wanton lust of power, no evil habits of which corrupt demagogues can take advantage to accomplish unholy ends, no injustice, and no evil. “Fly swift around ye wheels of time, and bring the welcome day.” The Advocate says:—
“In a timely, thoughtful article in the May number of the Golden Rule, Mr. H. D. Cushing notes the fact that the last half century in America has greatly changed the relative populations of city and country; that cities have become greater and towns relatively less. It is also affirmed that ‘political power has changed more than population;’ that in our chief cities ‘the liquor traffic can defeat any party or candidate that opposes it;’ and that ‘the power to defeat is the power to control.’ Referring to the political methods which obtain in cities, it is declared that ‘votes are not often bought with money, but money is often placed in the hands of agents to be used at their discretion. Liquor dealers are the best agents, not because they are more willing or more wicked, but because they are more able to do the work. They know their men better, can reach them easier, can buy them cheaper. They do not buy with money. They pocket the money, and buy with whisky, lager, and the other influences of their occupation.’
“We are quite ready to concur in the opinion that ‘it would scarce be too much to say that every closely contested election—city, state, and national—turns on just the use of money.’ Under such corrupting influences popular suffrage in our large cities has already come to be distrusted by many thoughtful observers, as a means of promoting the general welfare, and of securing and perpetuating stable and equitable government. A system of government which rests upon the ballot must indeed have good citizens. Strong drink is the especial destroyer of good citizenship. It must somehow, by the combination of all good influences, political and otherwise, be exorcised from our cities, else the sequel will prove with only a too painful certainty that ‘if popular government fail in our cities it must fail in the States and in the nation.’”
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
27.—S. B. AND CHURCH FELLOWSHIP.
Can a S. D. A. church hold a member in fellowship who pays no S. B., and who permits his children to labor on his premises on the Sabbath day? I. J.
ANS. The payment of S. B. was never designed to be made compulsory. The offerings to the Lord should be cheerful and freewill offerings. But if a person pledges, he should regard that as sacred, and faithfully meet it. It is of course expected that all will endorse and practice the Bible doctrine in regard to giving. If they do not, it is quite evident there is something wrong. In the matter of the Sabbath, where parents profess to keep it they can control their children in the practice, and are themselves responsible if they allow them to work on the Sabbath. Thus there may be good reason on both these grounds to withdraw the hand of fellowship from a member.
28.—THE NUMBER 666.
In Rev. 13:18, to make the number 666 complete, u and v are both used as numerals representing five. What is the authority for u as a numeral? R. A. U.
ANS. In ancient Latin the form of the letter which we call u was written like our v; and these letters were the same. Thus Augustus was written Avgvstvs; and the motto “Vicarius filii Dei,” which we think is the one referred to in Rev. 13:18, was written “Vicarivs filii Dei.” See inscriptions on the facsimiles of ancient coins as given in Illustrated Bible Dictionaries. Pope Gregory XIII. caused a medal to be struck to commemorate the bloody St. Bartholomew’s day, 1572, on the face of which was the inscription Gregorius XIII. Pont. Max. An. II.; and on the reverse side Vgonotorvm strages, 1572, “The slaughter of the Huguenots, 1572.” This is illustrated in the Domestic Bible, in notes on Rev. 17. In chap. 18, we have a facsimile of what is called “the pope’s own most illustrative medal.” It represents a woman sitting upon a sphere, holding by her side a cross, and in her extended right hand a half-filled cup, in the top of which is a smaller sphere also representing the world. She may call this the cup of salvation; but how aptly it illustrates the declaration of John that she had in her hand a cup full of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, from which all nations had drunk. The motto on this coin is, Sedet super universum, “she sits upon the universe.” The date of this medal is 1825. It shows at once the arrogance of the papal assumption, and the use of the letter v for u in papal inscriptions, even down to the present century. Such testimony might be greatly extended, but this is sufficient.
29.—END OF THE JEWS’ PROBATION.
Why did the apostles preach three and a half years to the Jewish people, if, as we read in the last chapter of the second volume of the Spirit of Prophecy, the probation of the Jews closed before the crucifixion? M. M. F.
ANS. What is set forth in the volume referred to is not the end of the probation of the Jewish people as individuals, but the end of their probation for national preservation, distinction and honor. Had they accepted Christ, and improved their golden opportunity, we are assured in the same chapter that Jerusalem would have stood and been the glorious metropolis of all the earth. But in their hardness and darkness, the Jews of that generation knew not the time of their visitation, but in blind fury threw away their last chance for this glorious distinction, by rejecting Christ. Then the fate of their city and of themselves as a nation was sealed. But to them must the preaching of the gospel first be specially directed by disciples fully qualified as they were on the day of Pentecost, and from them must be gathered the first nucleus of the Christian church. This was accomplished in the three years and a half that followed the crucifixion to complete the seventy weeks.
30.—PAUL AND THE SABBATH.
Where does Paul, who was an able minister of the gospel, who preached the whole counsel of God, and kept back nothing that was profitable, teach seventh-day Sabbath-keeping? J. M.
ANS. We might respond by asking where Paul has in direct language taught any one of the first four commandments of the decalogue. And however complete and conclusive this might be as an answer to the claim that Paul did not teach seventh-day Sabbath keeping, and therefore it is not now a duty, it would be a very weak answer compared with what may be given on this point. No writer of the New Testament insists more strenuously on the sacredness, immutability, and perpetuity of the moral law, than does Paul. But every argument for the law is a direct argument for the seventh-day Sabbath, inasmuch as that Sabbath is an inseparable part of the law. What necessity, then, for him to specify on every item of the law? And how unreasonable and short-sighted any theory which insists upon this. To illustrate: When the administration of this government passed some years ago from the democrats to the republicans, suppose some one had said, Now I can steal and murder; for the republicans do not in their platform expressly prohibit these acts. It would have been at once said to him, unless his insanity was considered hopeless, Do you not understand that a change of administration does not change or abrogate the law of the land? That remains unchanged, and every violation will meet its just punishment. Just as unreasonable is it for any one to insist upon a re-iteration or re-enactment of the moral law for this dispensation. That law was not affected by the change; and to guard against all possible mistake, that fact is clearly set forth all through the New Testament. If it be said that the writers of the New Testament refer to other commandments and thus recognize their existence, we reply that they refer to, and recognize the existence of, the Sabbath much more frequently.
THE TEMPERANCE WORK AT BATTLE CREEK.
By John Harvey Kellogg
At no place has there been more interest in the temperance work than at Battle Creek. From the first organization of the association here, a lively interest in the subject has kept up. Battle Creek has always been noted as one of the most decidedly temperance cities in the State of Michigan, and has been foremost in all temperance questions. This has been due in great measure, no doubt, to the fact that the members of our denomination located here have always stood on the right side of every temperance question, whether political or moral, and so have greatly aided in giving character to the place. Indeed, on more than one occasion it has been positively known that the votes of S. D. Adventists have given a victory for temperance at the polls, when success would otherwise have attended the opposite side.
At the organization of the Health and Temperance Association last New Year's, a membership of about one hundred and fifty was obtained, which gradually increased at the successive monthly meetings to two hundred and fifty. It was not until within a few days, however, that the work here has been what could really be considered a complete success.
Coming here directly from the excellent camp-meeting in Missouri, where a glorious triumph for temperance was achieved, Bro. and Sr. White, although much worn with arduous labors, were ready to take hold of the work here, and did so with most excellent results.
Sunday evening, June 8, in accordance with appointment the day before, they addressed a large audience gathered in the tabernacle, with telling effect. After their remarks, a committee of ten solicitors was appointed to canvass the audience for signers to the pledge, only the tee-total pledge being circulated. While the solicitors were quietly at work, the time was filled with interesting remarks by Bro. White, and singing by the choir, who rendered “Dare to be a Daniel,” a most appropriate piece for such an occasion, with excellent effect. It was found at the close of the meeting that one hundred and twenty-five names had been added to the list of members. By vote of the society, a committee of ten was appointed by the chairman to canvass the community with the tee-total pledge, and to report at the regular monthly meeting of the association to be held on the Wednesday evening following.
A public announcement being made that Eld. and Mrs. White were to address the public on Wednesday evening, a larger audience than usual gathered at the appointed hour and listened with the closest interest to their excellent addresses. Sr. White is everywhere recognized as the most instructive and interesting lady temperance lecturer who has appeared before the public. Bro. White gave on this occasion a few very interesting remarks concerning the temperance work among the denomination, and the prominent part which it had played in bringing S. D. Adventists into favorable notice, and gaining for them at once the respect and confidence of the people wherever they had entered new fields of labor. The pledge was again circulated, receiving many additional signatures, when it was found that with the names obtained by the solicitors since the last meeting, the membership of the association in this place had been increased to over five hundred.
The slight opposition which had been offered by some who did not fully comprehend the objects of the organization, and did not appreciate the advantages which might be gained by it, was wholly removed, the opposing ones laying down their opposition and giving their influence on the right side. A grand victory has been gained for temperance; and now Battle Creek stands foremost in the ranks, and says to all her sister churches, Come, let us join hands in this noble work, and present a solid front against the foes of temperance, the most dangerous of which exist in our own perverted appetites and artificial tastes.
In accordance with the plans of organization now perfected, the members of the association at Battle Creek adopted at this meeting the constitution and by-laws for local organizations, and will hereafter be known as the Battle Creek Health and Temperance Club. Eld. L. McCoy was elected leader, Eld. W. C. Gage secretary, and Dr. W. B. Sprague treasurer of the new organization. Meetings will be held monthly as heretofore. J. H. KELLOGG, M. D.
CAMP-MEETING IN DAVIESS CO., MO.
By George I. Butler
This meeting was held upon Bro. Mallory's farm, where several meetings of like character had been held years before. The meeting was not so large as the one held in the southern part of the State. Nineteen tents were pitched, including the large one, and upwards of one hundred and fifty camped upon the ground. Some were disappointed in not seeing Bro. and Sr. White. Bro. Rogers was the only minister of5the Conference who attended. Bro. Hollenbeck, who was on his way back to Iowa, was present, and helped much in the singing and otherwise. Bro. Farnsworth labored earnestly and acceptably for the interest of the meeting.
This was not so free a meeting as the one at Nevada City, because there was not that degree of union existing among all the brethren which existed there. Some members living a few miles from the meeting attended very little, and took no part. But most of those present took hold well, and received the blessing of Heaven. The Lord helped in the preaching, and truth was presented which will be a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death, to those who heard it. This was a season of labor and anxiety to those who had charge of the meeting, but truth and duty were made very clear. It seemed as if God was willing to pour us out a great blessing, if all would fully surrender to him. But we did not have that general move in the Conference that we wished to see, though several of the meetings were excellent, and hearts were melted by the tender Spirit of God.
On Sunday a large crowd of outsiders were present, but a storm in the afternoon broke up the interest of the meeting very much. I gave two discourses on the health and temperance question, which were well received by nearly all. Sunday morning we obtained one hundred and fourteen signers to the teetotal pledge, which was full as high a percentage of those present as at the southern meeting. We regretted that some of our leading brethren would not cast their influence with us in favor of this movement.
We also made special efforts to present the subject of s. B. before the brethren; and after preaching on the subject, we circulated a paper to which a large number subscribed, sacredly pledging a tithe of their income to God. But some of our leading brethren were as loth to take part in this enterprise as they were to act on the temperance question. What a sad commentary upon the effect of worldly wealth on the minds of those who profess the truth, that it is so difficult to get those who are well off to pledge a tithe of their income to God; while those who are comparatively poor are nearly always willing to do so. But I find this is apt to be the case.
The cause of God is languishing in Missouri because those who can sustain it, will not. Ministers are going to work with their hands, assigning this reason, that they cannot receive a decent support. How can God bless, when the people will not sustain the cause with their means? How can Sabbath-keepers expect ministerial labor unless they will help sustain those whom they desire to have labor for them, so that their families can be properly supported.
We had an interesting Sabbath-school, which was superintended by Bro. Farnsworth. We also had a meeting for the purpose of considering the subject of education, and our College at Battle Creek. I had freedom in speaking upon the importance of improving the mind, and of preserving it in the best condition to render life useful. We must create a love for education among our people, where it does not already exist. We want the youth among us to be capable of reasoning correctly, being well posted in all true science, and above all, in God's holy truth. How can this work be accomplished without such a school as ours?
The T. and M. work was also considered. Bro. E. A. Dean, director of district No. 1, resigned because he is to be absent several months. Bro. H. H. Fisher, of Gallatin, was appointed to take his place. We were favored with a good organ to assist in the music, by the kindness of Bro. Mallory's daughter-in-law, which was much appreciated. Our meeting closed Tuesday morning, nearly all feeling in the best of spirits. May God bless the cause in Missouri. GEO. I. BUTLER. Fairfield, Iowa.
A GRADUAL PROCESS.
The following question and its answer we take from the Christian Union of June 11, 1879. The concessions made in the answer to the question, and with which it seems any well-informed and unprejudiced person must agree, are utterly fatal to any claims for Sunday sanctity:—
When, why, and by whom was the day of rest changed from the seventh to the first? Has the Christian Sabbath been observed since the time of the apostles? READER.
The Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the first day of the week, not by any positive authority, but by a gradual process. Christ was in the tomb during the seventh day. He rose upon the first. The Christians naturally observed the first day as a festal day in the early church, and as gradually the Gentile Christians came to be the vast majority in the Church, they cared little or nothing about Jewish observances of any kind, abandoned the Jewish Sabbath, along with temple services and the like, and thus, by a natural process, the first day of the week came to take its place.
We do not see how any one who regards the fourth commandment as a statute binding on the whole human race, and also regards the day of the week as fixed by that statute, and assents to the law, can do other than observe the seventh day as his Sabbath. We regard the object of all the laws of the Bible to be the development of character, and under Christ every Christian has full liberty to use those laws as will best serve the development of character in himself and his neighbors. Therefore, we should not hesitate to use any rest day which the community in which we were living used.
Analyzing the above we have about this solution of the question: When was the Sabbath changed? By a gradual process beginning somewhere in the early church. Why? Echo answers, Why? By whom? By no positive authority, not by Christ or his apostles, but chiefly by the converts who came in from the Gentile or pagan world. But how shall we understand the remark about using the laws of the Bible in the best manner to develop character? We had supposed that God had fixed the standard of character, and given a law, obedience to which would secure that character. The spiritualist says that the ten commandments are best kept in their violation. This writer says that the law of the Sabbath (which, if there is any such law, confines a person, as he acknowledges, to a particular and specified day of the week) is kept by using any rest day adopted by the majority. This is the way to develop a character to go with the multitude, which, in things pertaining to God’s service, is the broad way. But we imagine that God would be better pleased with obedience to his word, though we might find ourselves thereby with the minority.
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.
By John Norton Loughborough
We held our first service in the tent Sunday, May 18, at 3:30 P. M., with an audience of about six hundred. We have now given ten discourses. Notwithstanding it has been rainy and cold most of the time, our meetings have been well attended, and the best of attention is given to the word spoken.
The people show their appreciation of what they hear by contributing toward bearing the expense of the meeting. They have already placed in our contribution boxes one pound sixteen shillings, about nine dollars. At the close of our service last Sunday evening, we held a prayer-meeting. About forty remained, and a goodly number took part with us. We hope for good results from this effort. For this we labor and pray daily.
In connection with our preaching, we are pushing on our missionary work from house to house, and sending out the Signs by post. We have received several favorable responses during the last two weeks,—two from parties to whom Bro. George R. Drew, of America, has been sending papers and letters. In one of these is a statement that a whole neighborhood is reading the paper with interest. “Let us not be weary in well doing.” Eternity alone can tell the result of our seed-sowing. The word is ever timely to God’s people,—“In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.”
Pray for our work here, that the Lord may water the seed sown, give the increase, and an abundant harvest in the end.